Top 14: Historic qualification or fall in the final sprint... Aviron Bayonnais faces the fear of heights

Aviron Bayonnais's last outing was a chilling blow. A good cold shower against Castres 33-3 . "We didn't exist. I'm very disappointed because we had one of the worst performances of the season and it came at the worst time," said Basque coach Grégory Patat . Because, after having a small lead in fourth place, Aviron saw the pack of pursuers dangerously close. Of course, Bayonne (64 points) still has its destiny in its own hands, ahead of Castres (63), La Rochelle (62), Clermont (59) and Pau (57).

But beware of a slip-up against RC Toulon , who are aiming for direct qualification for the semi-finals. "If we want to hope for a home playoff or qualify, we'll have to finish the job in the last match, and it's not by putting in a performance like that (against the CO) that we'll get there," warns Grégory Patat.

We must not be satisfied with what we have done. We can aim higher. That's the mentality we must have.

Gerard Fraser, Bayonne's three-quarters coach

Because the Bayonne technician knows that mathematically there is a scenario that would eliminate his team. It would have to take no points against RCT and, at the same time, Castres and La Rochelle would have to win away (at Stade Français and Pau respectively) and Clermont would have to sign a bonus victory on the pitch at Montpellier . That's a lot of "ifs", but that would ruin Bayonne's great season, which could end up finishing as low as seventh. A big fall in the final sprint...

Also read : Top 14: qualification for the final phase and the race to stay up, the scenarios for a final day that promises to be crazy

But, with one matchday left in the regular season, Aviron has some certainties to assert. Notably because it is the only undefeated club this season at home, with ten wins at Jean-Dauger and two successful away games in San Sebastian (against La Rochelle and Pau). "We announced a top 8 finish from the start, and today, we are fourth. Our fourth place is not usurped," Grégory Patat emphasized to Rugbyrama. "It is simply fair compared to what we have done since the start of the season."

And his assistant, Gerard Fraser, the three-quarters coach, insists: "We can't be satisfied with what we've done. We can aim higher. That's the mentality we need to have. We need this level of commitment to go as far as possible and not have any regrets. Because this might be the only time in the history of rowing that we'll go this far, we don't know..."

One of the uncertainties of the week concerned the presence or absence of fly-half Camille Lopez, the driving force behind the club's rise to prominence. After suffering a hamstring injury against Vannes in mid-May, the fly-half—who is playing his final season as a professional—will start on the bench, with Joris Segonds as the starter. A significant absence: right-back Tevita Tatafu, who has an ankle injury. Caution, then, as last year Toulon won at Anoeta (10-46).

"We're going to Bayonne with no hang-ups to prepare for the final stages as best we can. But, of course, we'll have to put in a big performance, because the final stages are coming straight after each other and we'll have to be ready," RCT international winger Gabin Villière insisted on Canal + after the victory against Bordeaux-Bègles last Sunday (27-10). Var manager Pierre Mignoni is well aware that "when you go to Bayonne, in this context, you expect a huge match. I want to see our progress. I don't want it to be a yes and a no..."

Also read : Top 14: Huge fervor, irresistible Maqala, respected Patat... The 5 reasons for a probable historic qualification for Bayonne

Bayonne winger Arnaud Erbinartegaray remains on his guard. "We're focusing on ourselves and what we can control. Our challenge is exciting. Mathematically, it's not done yet ," he recalls. "We play rugby for this kind of event. But we mustn't rush things and remain very serious to hold on to this fourth place."

Aviron - which lifted the Brennus shield in 1913, 1934, and 1943 - only returned to the elite in 2023 after a series of yo-yos. But president Philippe Tayeb 's club has been able to patiently build itself up and establish itself firmly in the elite. "We have to fight every day. We have to keep working because we've never experienced a Top 14 final phase," the Bayonne manager explained to Le Figaro in early January. "I believe the results are there, whether sportingly, structurally, or financially. (...) Today, the lights are green everywhere, but it remains fragile." Buoyed by its fiery and unwavering public (36th sold-out!), Bayonne has the opportunity to write one of the most beautiful pages of its history this Saturday.